January 20, 2010January 20, 2010•Knossos, the Minoans, the Minotaur, Knossos, the Minoans, the Minotaur,

and the Mysteryand the Mystery

•The Mighty Mycenaeans The Mighty Mycenaeans

HW:HW:

Extra Credit by Friday….. 3 for 1 pointExtra Credit by Friday….. 3 for 1 point

In your opinion…how did the Minoans die In your opinion…how did the Minoans die out?out?

35° 17′ 52.66″ N, 25° 9′ 47.36″ E

Minoan CitiesMinoan Cities

• No Walls!

• Famous for their grand palaces!– Center of the city palace instead of ziggurat– 5 stories high– Running hot and cold water– Heated rooms– Flushing toilets

Minoan CitiesMinoan Cities

– Near the center/palace – sea captains, merchants and shipbuilders

– Farther away – artisans

• Houses – Entrance on the roof (like the

Mesopotamians)– Later they added wooden doors and

windows with parchment (thin oiled animal skin)

Rulers & ReligionRulers & Religion

• Priest –kings – Ruled by talking to gods and representing

them on earth

• Polytheistic

• Main God/Goddess– Mother Earth

Mother EarthMother Earth

Minoan SportsMinoan Sports

• Minoans loved sports

• Built world’s first arena– Could seat 500!!!

• Boxing Matches – Men

• Chariot hunts - Women

• Bull Leaping – Men and Women

Bull LeapingBull Leaping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1L-8xLI_5c

• Around 1450 B.C.E. Minoan civilization disappears!

• Most likely a cataclysmic event.– TsunamiTsunami– Mycenaeans took them overMycenaeans took them over

• The Greeks claim it was the fault of the MINOTAURMINOTAUR!

Fall of the MinoansFall of the Minoans